Originally Posted by
dinoscool3
Not to mention, my fellow (relatively, I'd hardly call spending a thousands of dollars "low") low spend high mileage fliers are often ones who will stick through UA during economic downturns. Since I'm not flying on OPM, as long as I'm still getting a pay check I'd still be flying, when many corporate contracts will dry up the second the economy starts looking bad (which it will soon). But now I'll be taking my business elsewhere.
It remains to be seen if the low spending high mileage flyers will even have any material impact to UA. For one, outside of FT, most of these flyers will just drop in elite tier and probably accept it, and continue to spend on UA because of price/schedule. And second, UA and other carriers have much more flexibility and tools available now to adjust to any downturns and geopolitical issues (see the quick adjustments to India/HKG schedules and how 77W have been re-deployed over and over again).